Learn The Lingo Of Private Equity Investing

The media frenzy surrounding the credit bubble has helped make private equity, which was once only recognized by the most sophisticated investors, a commonplace word. Many mainstream investors have become interested in learning more about the private equity industry. Because of the non-public nature of private equity, it can be difficult to gain access to the lingo used by industry insiders. Read on if you are interested in learning more about the different private equity terms and ratios that have been raising the eyebrows of even the most sophisticated institutional investors.

Private Equity-Speak 101Before we can discuss the important ratios used in private equity, you must first be familiar with some of the basic terms that are important to private equity investors. Some of these terms are strictly used in private equity. Others may not seem so new depending on your exposure to alternative asset classes, like hedge funds.

Limited PartnersLimited partners are usually institutional or high net worth investors interested in receiving the income and capital gains associated with investing in the private equity fund. Limited partners do not take part in the fund's active management. They are protected from losses beyond their original investment as well as any legal actions taken against the fund.

General PartnersThe general partners are responsible for managing the investments within the private equity fund. For their services, they earn a management fee and a percentage of the fund's profits, called carried interest. The general partners can be legally liable for the actions of the fund.

Preferred Return, Carried Interest and Clawback ProvisionLike most other alternative investments, private equity compensation structures can be complicated. The general partner's compensation usually comes from two different sources: carried interest and management fees. Carried interest is the general partner's share of the profits of the investments made within a private equity fund. It can range from 5-30% of the profits.

In addition to carried interest, the general partners earn a management fee, which is typically 2% of commitments paid annually, although there are exceptions when the rate is less.

Private equity funds usually have clauses in their compensation agreements. Two of the main types of clauses are the preferred return provision and the clawback provision. The preferred return, or "hurdle rate", is basically a minimum annual return that the limited partners are entitled to before the general partners may begin receiving carried interest. If there is a hurdle, the rate is typically around 8%. The clawback provision gives the limited partners the right to reclaim a portion of the general partner's carried interest in the event that losses from later investments cause the general partner to withhold too much carried interest.

Committed Capital, Drawdown, Vintage Year and Paid-In CapitalIn the private equity world, money that is committed by limited partners to a private equity fund, also called committed capital, is usually not invested immediately. It is "drawn down" and invested over time as investments are identified.

Drawdowns, or capital calls, are issued to limited partners when the general partner has identified a new investment and a portion of the limited partner's committed capital is required to pay for that investment.

The first year that the private equity fund draws down or "calls" committed capital is known as the fund's vintage year. Paid-in capital is the cumulative amount of capital that has been drawn down. The amount of paid-in capital that has actually been invested into the fund's portfolio companies is simply referred to as invested capital.

Cumulative Distribution and Residual ValueWhen private equity investors consider a fund's investment track record, it is important for them to know the amount and timing of the fund's cumulative distributions, or the total amount of cash and stock that has been paid out to the limited partners. In addition to cumulative distributions, the fund's residual value is also important. Residual value is the market value of the remaining equity that the limited partners have in the fund.

Private Equity RatiosNow that you are familiar with some of the important terms, you are ready to learn about some of the ratios that are important to private equity investors. The Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS) require that the following ratios be present when private equity firms present their performance to prospective investors.

Investment MultipleThe investment multiple is also known as the total value to paid-in (TVPI) multiple. It is calculated by dividing the fund's cumulative distributions and residual value by the paid-in capital. It gives a potential investor insight into the fund's performance by showing the fund's total value as a multiple of its cost basis. It does not take into account the time value of money.

Realization MultipleThe realization multiple is also known as the distributions to paid-in (DPI) multiple. It is calculated by dividing the cumulative distributions by paid-in capital. The realization multiple, in conjunction with the investment multiple, gives a potential private equity investor insight into how much of the fund's return has actually been "realized", or paid out, to investors.

Realization Multiple = Cumulative Distributions / Paid-In Capital

RVPI MultipleThe RVPI multiple is calculated by dividing the fund's residual value by paid-in capital. It provides a measurement, in conjunction with the investment multiple, of how much of the fund's return is unrealized and dependent on the market value of its investments.

RVPI Multiple = Residual Value / Paid-in Capital

PIC MultipleThe PIC multiple is calculated by dividing paid-in capital by committed capital. This ratio shows a potential investor the percentage of a fund's committed capital that has actually been drawn down.

PIC Multiple = Paid-In Capital / Committed Capital

In addition to the above ratios, the fund's IRR since inception, or "SI-IRR", is a common formula that potential private equity investors should be able to recognize. It is simply the fund's internal rate of return since its first investment.

The Bottom LineThe private equity industry has grabbed the attention of some very savvy investors. As the industry's influence on our financial market grows, it will become increasingly important for investors to be familiar with the basic lingo used in the private equity industry. Being familiar with the terms and ratios used in private equity compensation agreements, investment processes and performance presentations will help you invest smarter both in and outside of private equity.